Back in September we ran a story on trail closures in Wharton State Forest – it was a familiar story: irresponsible wheelers going off the trail, digging out big mud holes and ruts, leading to the Park Service closing trails in a poorly-communicated attempt to stem the damage (see our original story here).
Since our last story, there have been a few positive updates:
NJ Motorized Access Plan (“MAP”) Suspended – closed roads re-opened
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection put the the MAP in place over the summer, closing vehicle access on many miles roads in Wharton State Forest. This created uproar with the 4×4 enthusiasts, hunting groups, kayakers, and other folks who depend on vehicle access to get to their favorite spots in the forest.
In mid-October, Bob Martin, chairman of the NJ Department of Environmental Protection suspended the MAP indefinitely. He acknowledged the concerns of stakeholder groups opposing the MAP, as well as the need to maximize access while enforcing the existing rules against irresponsible behavior in the forest. See the letter from Bob Martin here.
“Open Trails New Jersey” Established
Thankfully, folks in the 4×4 and other stakeholder communities are really stepping up in an organized, collaborative way to keep roads open. In literally ~2 months, Open Trails New Jersey has been incorporated and is actively driving the dialogue on access, rules enforcement, and service projects in the forest. I’d encourage you to go check out OTNJ’s impressive website to learn more about how they formed, their mission, and bookmark the site for the timely updates they provide on Wharton access. Finally, consider becoming a member of OTNJ, which costs $25 for the year as a way for supporting the cause (you can register on the site).
We are looking forward to seeing Open Trails NJ continue to make headway, and hope to get ourselves up to Wharton State Forest in the near future for some adventure of our own!
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